Dispensing pump units



United States Patent DISPENSING PUMP UNITS James U. Stewart, Whittier, and Rex c. Cooprider, Downey, Califl, assignors to The Drackett Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 24, 1956 Serial No. 611,641

Claims. (Cl. 222-321) This invention relates to improvements in dispensing pump units for portable containers of the class exemplified in' the Martin Patents 2,362,080 and 2,362,081;

In pump units of this class the pump barrel is supported in the collar of the container with its siphon tube depending into the liquid contents thereof and the pump plunger is reciprocable through the outer end, of the container, the plunger being hollow andhaving a tubular discharge opening exteriorly of the container for ejecting the fluid contents. The plunger in such structure has normally-been resiliently projected outwardly by spring means whereby it may be reciprocated through finger pressure directed axially against its outer end.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement of finger pieces and thumb piece associated with the pump barrel and plunger respectively for facilitating the supporting of the container and simultaneous actuation of the pump with one hand, leaving the other hand of the user free for reception and/or application of the discharged fluid or for other purposes.

A particularly novel aspect of the invention consists in utilizing the supporting finger piece in combination with a flange element on the pump barrel for fixedly positioning the pump unit with respect to its associated container cap.

The preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a novel structure of the finger piece in which the finger piece comprises oppositely radially projecting arms which may be of economically produced sheet'plastic material extending in a radial plane of the pump barrel, these arms being reinforced by ribs radiating from a centrally located collar in the finger piece, the collar and ribs being of substantially greater axial extent or thickness than the sheet material.

Further novel features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings considered in conjunction with the following detailed description:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to a conventional bottle, the bottle being in broken lines and its cap being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a plan section taken on the line 22 of Figure l; and,

Figure 3 is an axial section through the bottle cap and portions of its associated pump components.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings the invention has been illustrated as applied to a conventional liquid container which is shown as being in the form of a bottle B having a threaded neck N adapted for reception ofa usual threaded closure cap which is adapted to support the dispensing pump unit of the invention.

It will be seen that the cap 10 is provided with a medial circular opening 12 through which projects the upper or outer end portion of a usual hollow cylindrical pump barrel 14 provided with a preferably integral Patented June 3, 1958 radial flange 16 adapted to fit on the bottle neck N and to be compressed axially between the bottle neck and the inner or lower face 18 of the bottle cap as the latter is threaded onto the neck N. Thus the flange 16 may functionas a sealing element between the cap and the bottle neck although if desired a usual resilient washer may be interposed between this flange 16 and the bottle neck in accordance with the usual practice. It Will be seen that in the assembled relation of the bottle, the pump barrel 14 and bottle cap 10, the barrel 14 will be held in fixed relation relative to the bottle neck.

However, for the purpose of maintaining the entire pump structure in assembled relation with the bottle cap 10 prior to assembly. of the cap to the bottle, there is provided the rigid finger piece generally designated 20 which is fixed on the upper end of the pump barrel 14 above and in abutment with the outer face of the bottle cap 10 whereby the bottle cap is thus clamped between the flange 16 and the finger piece 20 and thereby fixedly axially positioned on the barrel 14. The finger piece '20 includes relatively opposed radial arms 22 extending diametrically from a central hub or collar 24 so that the free ends of the arms 22 project substantially beyond the outer margin or periphery of the bottle cap 10, whereby the entire pump assembly together with its associated container B may be readily supported by auser simply by inserting two fingers of one hand on opposite sides of the cap 10 and beneath the projecting outer ends of the respective arms 22.

The element, 22 is adapted to be formed by usual plastic casting methods as an integral structure from any suitable type of plastic material and in the preferred embodiment is so conformed as to utilize but a minimum amount of such material while nevertheless having ample strength and rigidity to perform its intended function. To this end it will be seen that the radial arms 22 are formed as relatively thin sheet material structures lying in a common radial plane of the pump barrel 14 while the central hub or collar 24 is of appreciably greater axial thickness or extent than the arms 22 and is integrally tied or connected to the arms by raised reinforcing ribs 26 formed integrally with the arms and collar and preferably extending diagonally between the upper edge of the collar and the outer end portions of the .arms 22.

In order to adapt the finger piece 20 for quick and accurate assembly to the pump barrel 14 the collar 24 of the finger piece is preferably provided with an annular downwardly opening groove 28 adapted for snug reception of the upper end portion of the barrel 14. Preferably the barrel 14 will be cemented in the grooves 28.

Reciprocable in the pump barrel 14 through the collar 24 of the finger piece is a usual pump plunger 30 of hollow construction having a suitable fluid outlet 32 which may be carried by a hollow fitting 34 at its upper or exterior end, the fitting 34 preferably being protive movement, it being noted that the main body of .the plunger 30 fits rather loosely in the barrel 14 and at its lower end carries a plunger head or piston ring element 38 preferably of a resilient plastic material adapted to snugly engage the inner walls of the barrel 14.

The interior structure of the pump unit may be in accordance ,withknown practicesuchas .exemplifiedin the Martin patents. To this end the downwardly opening end of the plunger 14 receives and communicates withv the upper endof a usual suction tubei40 through which fluid is withdrawn from the container B on the up stroke of the plunger, the up stroke being-caused by resilient means in the form of a spring 42 within the barrel 14 exerting a resilient upward th'rustagainst the lower end of the plunger 3d. For the purpose of preventing back flow of fluid from the barrel 14 into the bottle thereis provided a usual ball check valve 44 adapted to siton the upper end of the tube 4-9 and normally urged into seated relation by pressure of the lower end of the spring 42. For thepurposeof permitting a return into-the eontainer B'of fluid which may be forced upwardly between the plunger 30 and the barrel 14, the barrel 14 maybe provided'with vents 46 located below the flange 16. Asabove mentioned, the plunger 34 isof-generallytubular construction, the resilient plunger head 38 being provided with an axial bore 48 extending upwardly therethrough and communicating with the remainder of the tubular structure 33, the hollow cylindrical fitting 34. The upper. end of the plunger 39 within the fitting 34 may define a seat for a ball check valve 50 which prevents back flow of fluid from the fitting 34 into the plunger 30 and barrel 14. a

It will be seen that the lower end of the fitting 34 defines an annular shoulder 52 adapted to abut against the collar 24 of the finger piece to limit the downward stroke of the plunger while the plunger is formed with an integral upwardly directed abutment 54-adapted for engagement with the lower end of the collar 24 to limit its upward stroke.

In the operation of the device it will be seen that the user may insert the fingers of one hand on opposite sides of the cap ltl beneath the projecting ends of the arms 22 to readily support the pump unit and its associated container B and with the thumb ofthe same hand may apply an intermittent downward pressure on the thumb piece 36 to produce successive downward strokes of the plunger 36), the corresponding upward strokes being produced by the action of the spring 42. The novel arrange ment of the finger piece 26 and flange 16 on the barrel 14 serves to fixedly assemble the barrel with the cap It) as a unit, thus facilitating its application to the container B. Moreover, the specific arrangement of the collar 24, the sheet metal arms 22 and their reinforcing ribs 26 permits formation of the finger piece from a minimum amount of plastic material while yet giving it the requisite strength for its intended use.

The operation of the pump unit per se is substantially as described in the Martin patent above mentioned. On the down stroke of the plunger 34 any liquid contained in the barrel 14 will be expelled upwardly through the hollow plunger 3i past the ball check valve 50 and through the discharge element 32, the ball check valve 34 remaining seated to prevent back flow of the fluid from the pump barrel 14 into the container B. On the resulting up stroke of the plunger as caused by the spring 42 the ball check valve St) will remain seated to permit back flow of fluid and/or air into the hollow plunger 30, while the ball check valve 44 will be unseated and fluid will be sucked past it through the tube 40 and into the barrel 42.

Although only the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described inthe present application, it will be understood that the invention is capable of embodiment in various forms and its details may be altered in various respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description herein are to be considered as merely illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A dispensing pump unit comprising a centrally aperhaving inner and outer faces, a cylindrical pump barrel extending axially through said aperture and having an integral radial flange abutting against the inner face of said cap, an annular collar abutting against the outer face of said cap and formed with an annular groove snugly receiving the external end of said barrel, said collar and said flange axially fixing saidbarrelrelative to said cap, a finger piece integral with said collar including-diametricallyalignedarm portions projecting radially beyondthe periphery of said cap.

2. A dispensing pump unit comprising a centrally apertured closure cap for -a portable liquid-container, said cap having inner and outer faces, a cylindrical pump barrel extending axially through said aperture and having an integral radial flange abutting against the inner face of said cap, an annular sealing collar abutting against the outer face of said cap and. secured on the external end of said barrel, said collarand .said flange axiallyfixing said barrel relative .to:said cap, .a finger pieceintegralwith said collar includingdiametrically aligned'arnrportions projecting radiallylbe-yon'd the periphery ofsaid cap.

3. Adispensing pump unit comprising a centrally apertured closure cap for a portable liquid container, said caphavinginner and outerfaces, a cylindrical pump barrel extending axially-through said aperture, and ,having anintegral radial flange abutting against the. inner face of said cap, arigid finger piece, extending diametrically across the outer faceof said cap and projecting radially beyond the periphery thereof, said afin'ger ipiece :being formed with .a central openingfor sliding receptionof a pump plunger, vand with an annular groove extending concentrically around'said apertureandsnugly receivingthe end of said barrel, said finger, pieceabutting axiallysagainst said cap and togetherwith saidflangeisecuringxthe barrel and cap againstgrelative axial displacements.

, 4. A dispensing pump unit for liquids comprising a generally cylindrical pump barrel open at its upperend and provided with an integral radial flange adjacent but below said upper end, a removable closure cap having a central opening 'therethrough, said upper endof thebarrel extending through said opening,.and,sai d flange .abutting against the lower face of said cap, a plunger reciprocable insaid barrel and projecting. upwardly through said end of the barrel, a finger bar formed with .a ,circular aperture medially of its length slidably receiving said plunger, said bar extending diametrically tosaid plunger,

and formed concentrically to said aperture with a downwardly opening annular groove axially receivingsaidiupper end; of the barrel, said bar abutting against the upper face. of said cap and cooperatingwith said flange to prevent axial movement of the barrel within the cap.

5. A dispensing pump unit comprising a-centrally apertured closure cap for a portable liquid container, said cap having inner and outer faces, a cylindrical pump barrel extending axially through said aperture, and having an lntegralradial flange abutting against the inner face of said cap, a rigidfingerpiece fixed on said. ,barrel in axial abutment with the outerface thereof, said finger piece having radial arms extending diametrically from the barrel beyond the margin of thecap, said arms being .of relatively thin sheet material in the radial plane .ofsaid barrel, and including a centrally disposed integral collar of substantially greater-thickness than said sheet material defining a central plunger guide opening, radialreinforcing ribs extending along the outer face of said finger piece from said centrally disposed collarand reinforcing the diametrical extremities of said finger piece againstaxial thrust, said, collar being formedwith aninwardlyppening annular .groove extending concentrically,aroundsaid guide opening and snugly fixedly receiving the outer-end of said barrel, a pump plunger reciprocably disposed in said barrel and through said guide opening in wiping relaplunger on opposite sides of said collar for abutment therewith to limit the amplitude of reciprocation of the plunger, and a thumb piece on the outer end of said plunger, whereby'the said pump unit and its associated portable container may be supported by two fingers of the users hand disposed beneath the said arms of the finger piece, and the plunger may be reciprocated by the thumb of the same hand.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lockhart Oct. 29, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 16, 1905 

